Turning Grief Into Relentless Action: In Memory of My Father

Yesterday marked six years since my father passed away from a sudden stroke. The Tunisian clinic where he was treated lacked the necessary resources to respond swiftly and effectively to a senior in critical condition, which ultimately cost him his life. Losing him was the hardest day of my life, and shortly after, I lost one of my best friends to COVID-19. Those were deeply challenging times, and they made me confront some hard truths about life and society.

Luckily, my beloved wife and two children were here. And luckily, I was able to convert all the pain into positive work. I realized how much our time here on Earth is finite, and felt that it’s our duty to do the best we can to help others. For me, this also meant pushing the healthcare industry to evolve and striving to provide better (and faster) access to healthcare, especially in places where it’s sorely lacking. That’s why, as much as possible, I started focusing more on supporting the healthcare industry—whether through innovation, advocacy, or partnerships.

Education has also been a passion of mine. Without quality education and working systems, we can't raise our human intellect and we can't expect the world to be a better place. This is why we’ve poured so much into GotoELearning.com, formerly called iEteach. Our mission is to support educational and healthcare institutions, as well as companies, by providing easier access to education tools, training their educators and employees, and opportunities to thrive. I believe that through education and access to information, we can empower individuals and communities to change their circumstances.

In 2017, I was leading sales and marketing teams for some of the fastest-growing Fortune 500 companies in California, having previously worked in management roles at companies like Google. Before that, I co-founded one of the first Medicare platforms in the world, launched one of the earliest medical tourism companies, and established one of the top 20 fastest-growing luxury tourism companies in America. The company is based in Beverly Hills, California, and operates globally. I also contributed to the latest sales intelligence innovations now adopted by Salesforce.com and other giants. Additionally, I've worked with amazing edutech companies such as Berlitz International, written multiple books, and trained over 2,000 sales reps in over 30 nations. It was the most stable and "comfortable" chapter of my career.

But something didn’t sit right. I’ve always believed that the greatest growth happens during times of discomfort. Ironically, the comfort I was experiencing left me feeling deeply unfulfilled.

After a year and a half of searching for the right opportunity, I closed on a major venture: an ambitious project to launch Mokhtar Group, a collection of innovative businesses that aligned with my vision of meaningful transformation in the digital, education, and business development sectors.

And so began the toughest years of my life—transforming a series of ideas into thriving ventures, each with its own challenges.

Here’s how I did it:

Started With Vision

The vision was the foundation. I established Mokhtar Group as a hub for transformative digital solutions, eLearning innovations, and cutting-edge business strategies—spanning platforms like Goto eLearning, Skillset Academy, Malqart, and Corporate Sales Partner.

With every team I brought on, I shared this vision. It wasn't just about profits; it was about creating solutions that changed how businesses evolved and how people learned. I spent time embedding this vision into the culture of every project.

Made Tough Choices

The initial phase was the hardest. Trying to bring people on board who weren’t aligned with the vision was a mistake I quickly learned from.

After a year of pushing for a cultural shift, I recognized that some team members simply weren’t on the same page. Keeping them wasn’t just a disservice to the company—it was a disservice to them. They deserved to be somewhere that fit their values.

I made the tough choice to part ways with those who didn’t resonate with our vision and brought in new team members who were excited by the challenge of growth, innovation, and transformation.

Smart Hiring and Systems

We faced some financial constraints, and I knew that building the right team would be critical. I focused on finding hidden talent—sometimes from unexpected places!

We developed systems and products that helped us identify passionate individuals who had the right skill sets, no matter where they were in the world. Offshoring became an essential tool—it wasn’t just about reducing costs, it was about finding talent that could drive our mission forward.

Hands-On Leadership

I believe in rolling up my sleeves and getting involved in the tough work!

My role wasn’t just to direct; it was to enable the success of every individual on the team. I took on different roles, worked side-by-side with developers, marketers, salespeople, and content creators. This hands-on approach meant I could train the team from experience, not just from guidelines.

Adaptability and Learning

Throughout this journey, adaptability was everything. No challenge was insurmountable—every problem was an opportunity to innovate.

I had to learn, adapt, and pivot constantly. Whether it was adjusting Malqart’s marketing tactics, developing new eLearning content for Goto eLearning's clients, or expanding the offerings of Corporate Sales Partner—every pivot taught me resilience and deepened my understanding of what our clients, whether US-based or global, truly needed.

This journey has taught me countless lessons, but above all, it taught me resilience.

If you’re truly looking to grow, you have to embrace discomfort. It’s through discomfort that we evolve and build inner strength—the kind of stability that no comfort zone can provide.